10 Biggest Non-WWE Matches Of The Last Decade

1. Kazuchika Okada Vs. Kenny Omega (Wrestle Kingdom 11)

The Tokyo Dome has long been famed for its ability to help wrestlers add an extra star to their match ratings - this time, however, it helped them add an extra star to the entire ratings system.

Yes, the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer awarded Kazuchika Okada's pulsating IWGP World Heavyweight Title defence against Kenny Omega a rare six-star rating, so much did it stand out from the crowd on a night when virtually everyone on the card brought their A-game.

Nearly a full year later, watching it is still almost every bit as thrilling. Even though you now know the outcome, it's impossible not to get a little bit excited at all the conjoined-twin-close near-falls, and a little bit mortified when The Cleaner gets flung over the top rope onto a table, sharp metal legs and all, perched ominously outside the ring.

In terms of impact on the business, this match might be the biggest of the last decade including those put on by WWE. Every wrestler in the world saw it, and those with aspirations of being the best must surely have realised that the wrestling bar had been irretrievably raised.

WhatCulture.com

Company Pages

Delivering passionate and comprehensive entertainment coverage to millions of users world-wide each month. Seen on Sky News; featured in The Guardian, NY Times, The Independent and more. 40,000+ articles posted by thousands of contributors spanning the entire cultural spectrum.